Collapsible tube



May 29, 1934. A. H. OTTEN COLLAPSIBLE TUBE Filed Jan. 15, 1934 INVENTOR ATTORNEYJ Patented May 29, 1934 UNITED STATES.

1,960,393 COLLAPSIBLE TUBE Arthur Otten, Highland Park, Mich.

Application January 15,

8 Claims.

This invention relates to containers such as are generally used for tooth paste, shaving cream and the like and has for its object to provide an im'- proved cap and ball closure valve for a container of this type. 1

, I am aware that various attempts have been made to employ a rotatable ball valve but in some cases these attempts'have not met with success because of too great cost while in many other 10 cases the ball retainer was not constructed in such manner as to properly pack and Protect the outlet of the container.

It is therefore an object of this inventionto provide a separate cap for connection to a collapsible tube, to teach the manner of properly, eflfectively and cheaply connecting the cap to the tube, and to likewise provide an effective way of seating the ball valve in the cap.

Other objects and advantages will become hereinafter more fully apparent as reference is had to the accompanying drawing wherein my invention is illustrated, by way of example in several, suitable forms and in which Figure 1 is a top elevation of my improvedcap and closure valve; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a container equipped with my improved cap and valve, partially broken away for purposes of explanation;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2 without the lower portion of the tube, showing another form of my invention; 1

Fig. 4 is a view of the cap, valve andretaining members in assembly ready for the final finishing p;

85 Figs. Sand 6 are views of the retaining washer;

Fig. 'I is a top plan view of Fig. 8, and

Fig. 8 is a section similar to that of Fig. 3 show compounds, in which case the side walls are beaded at 6, forming an undercut portion. Axially through the cap an opening '7 is formed, having .the outer portionof its wall formed on a sphere of radius equal to that of the ball valve 8. The inner end of this opening 7 is iformed with cylindrical side walls in order that the ball 8 may '55 be inserted. Alter insertion of the ball 8, as

1934, SerialNo. 706,599

shown in Fig. 4, the end 4 of the tube 1 is inserted against the interior of the cap, and a suitable packing member 9, preferably made of cork and having an opening at least as large as the opening 10 of the ball 8, is placed in the tube against the 00 inturned end 4. A packing washer 11, arcuate in cross section, is then inserted against the tube and packing 9 and pressed into the tube against the packing. The operation expands the tube into the undercut walls of the cap while imposing pressure on'the packing 9 thus making an excellent rigid assembly of the tube and cap. This last operation also imposesja pressure on the ball 8 to give it a firm seating against the spherical walls of the opening 7 so that the packing washer 11 serves several purposes. Y

Figure 8 illustrates a form of capavhich may suitably and cheaply be made of sheet metal, as

.by stamping the cap 5a with a central opening 7a.

The side walls of this cap are likewise formed with a bead or inturned portion 6a by which the same locking means including the cork packing 9a and washer 11a. are employed, as previously explained. Fig. 3 illustrates another form of my invention, also suitably made of sheet metal, which has a conically shaped cap 5b provided with beaded or inturned edges 6b to serve with the cork packing 9b and the washer llb. Between the cork packing 9b,,and the cap, a packing collar 12, of some suitable material such as cork, is placed to closely encircle the ball 8b. This collar 12' prevents the entry of filler material into the space between the packing 9b and the cap 5b. In this form thecork packing 9b and the washer 11b take somewhat spherical shape adjacent the ball. v

flexible metal tube having its upper end drawnsubstantially radially inwardly, a cap having beaded or inturned side walls forming an undercut portion with respect to the outer edge thereof, said cap having an ,outlet passage therethrough for the ejection of tube filler material,

said cap fitting over the said upper end of said tube, and means for expanding and maintaining the side walls of said tube. into the undercut portion of said side walls whereby said tube and said cap are secured in rigid assembly.

2. In combination in a collapsible container, a

flexible tube having its upper end inturned substantially radially, a cap having beaded or inturned side walls fitting over said upper end of the tube, said cap having an opening therethrough for the ejection of tube flller material, and a perforated disc arcuate in cross section for placement in said tube andcap, said disc upon radial expansion expanding said tube against the side walls of said cap'interiorly of said head to securely lock said cap and said tube.

3. In combination in a collapsible container, a flexible metal tube, a cap for one end of said tube having undercut side walls and an opening therethrough for ejection of tube filler material, said tube extending into said cap, a packing member having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of said tube residing inwardly of said tube and said. cap, and a perforated metallic disc, areuate in cross-section adjacent said packing member, said metallic disc upon being flattened expanding the side walls of said tube against the undercutside walls of said cap thereby placing said packing member under compression and forming a rigid assembly of said cap, tube and packingmember, said packing member and said disc each having an opening therethrough alined with the outlet passage in said cap.

4. In combination ina collapsible container, a

.cork packing member in said tube adjacent saiddrawn end, and a metallic disc arcuate in. cross section adjacent said packing member, said disc upon being flattened expanding said tube "against the side walls of said cap interiorly of said bead,- said cap upon flattening also imposing pressure on said packing member and on the inturned end thereof, a conically shaped cap having beaded of said tube ,thereby forming a rigid assembly.

5. In combination in a collapsible container, a flexible tube, a cap having inturned or beaded edges adapted to fit over one end of said tube, said cap having an opening therethrough with spherical side walls, a ball valve residing in said opening in rotatable relation therewith and having an open passageway therethrough. adapted to be covered and uncovered upon rotation of said ball valve, a soft packing member residing in said tube adjacent said cap,-and a metallic dished washer in said tube adjacent said packing member, said washer upon expansion into position being adapted to expand the side walls .of said tube against the" side walls of said cap inwardly of said beaded edge: thereby forming a locking means for said tube with respect to said cap, said washer also exerting pressure on said packing member against said ball to maintain said ball in firmly seated engagement with the outlet opening in said cap.

6. In combination in a collapsible container, a flexible tube, a cap having inturned or beaded edges adapted to flt over one end of said tube, a ball valve in said cap, said cap having a constricted opening for the seating of said ball valve thereagainst, a handle or knob integral with said ball extending outwardly of said cap for rotation of said ball valve into open and closed position, a packing member in said tube abutting said ball valve to maintain said valve, seated against said constricted opening, filling material between said constricted opening and said packing member serving as an abutment for said packing material and as a retaining means for said ball, and a metallic disc normally arcuate in cross section adapted to expand the side walls of said tube against the side Walls of said cap interiorly of said beaded edge, said disc exerting pressure against said packing to retain said valve firmly against said constricted opening.

7. In combination in a, collapsible container, a flexible metallic tube, a thin conical shaped cap for one end'of said 'tube, said cap having side walls with inturned edges and an opening along the axis thereof for the extrusion of tube filler material, a ball valve of larger diameter than said opening residing inwardly of said cap, a disc packing member in said tube abutting said ball valve, a separable collar about said ball valve abutting said cap and said packing member, and a dished washer for insertion into said tube against said packing member, said washer upon flattening being adapted to expand said tube against said cap inwardly of said inturned edges, said washer being also adapted to maintain said ball valve in firmly seated engagement with said opening.

' 8. In combination in a collapsible container, a flexible metallic cylindrical tube having its upper end drawn" inwardly substantially along a radius in contact withthe side walls of said cap inwardly.

of the inturned edges thereof, said cap maintain ing said soft packing member firmly against said ball valve, and a collar between said cap and said packing member surrounding said ball valve, said collar serving asa rigidifying means for said packing member and restraining the flow of tube .filler material in the space between said cap, said packing member and said ball valve.

ARTHUR H. O'I'IEN. 

